“Good. Everyone was there and trained like normal so it was good. We’ve got great weather at the moment so we had good conditions to work in.” How did you experience last weekend and the postponing of the ‘Clasico’?
“It was a little bit different for me because I was playing with the reserves. I wasn’t on ‘the inside’. I heard everything while I was preparing to take on Aurillac (0-0). I think it was the right decision to take given the problems that afflicted us. Swine flu has claimed a few lives so you have to take it seriously. We can always reschedule a match and the most important thing is the players’ health.”
How was your return to competition with the reserves last weekend?
“It went well. I got back into the feel of things which is great after so long – my last match was, after all against Monaco (0-0, 30/05/09) – the last game of last season. That’s going back a bit! It’s good to be playing because there’s no substitute for match time. I’ve trained like crazy, but it’s not the same as playing in a game.” Do you think you’ll be right for the Sochaux game?
“I don’t know. That’s a question for the coach. I’m ready and I’m in the squad. But I’ve been out for three months and you can’t just snap your fingers and everything’s fine. I need to get back into the rhythm. I’m available for the coach if he wants me, it’s his decision.”
The game against Sochaux is an important one…
“All matches are important. We’re 13th in the standings with a game in hand. We need to put a stop to this run of games without a win. We’ll be playing against an in-form team coming off three wins (1-0 v Le Mans; 1-0 v Lorient; and 2-0 v Lyon). It won’t be easy and we’ll need to fight to bring back a good result to help us climb a bit up the standings.” How do you explain the team’s current problems in front of goal?
“It’s difficult to explain. I was also on the outside looking in. Bad luck, a few little injury niggles... Then doubt can come along... It’s a fine balance. It’s true that you have to make your own luck. Even when it’s really tough, you’ve got to try and keep working and trying things. You have to force destiny to swing in your favour.”
